Antibiotics won’t chase away a cold any quicker than watchful waiting.

According to a randomized, controlled trial, antibiotic treatment does not improve the sniffles and stuffiness (called acute rhinosinusitis) that often accompany a cold. Disease-specific quality of life as measured by the Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-16) did not vary between antibiotic or placebo groups over a 10-day study period. Remember, most colds are caused by viruses, which do not respond to antibiotics. In fact, excessive use of medications contributes to antibiotic resistance.

PositiveTip: Watchful waiting after the onset of cold symptoms should be the norm--try to reduce antibiotic use.

Vapor rub improves cold symptoms in children--and improves sleep.

Vicks VapoRub, often called a mother's best friend for when children can't sleep due to cold and congestion, has been shown to actually be beneficial. In a single-night study, Pennsylvania researchers found that vapor rub improved both parent and child sleep and reduced symptoms significantly more than in the placebo groups.

PositiveTip: When you or your child have a cough and congestion, try vapor rub at night. 

Get moving to live a longer and better life!

If people would simply start a walking program of at least 30+ minutes of brisk walking daily beginners: start slower, work up, and break it up into 15 minute sessions), they could positively impact their own health. Many research reports show that compared to sedentary persons, those who exercise regularly have a:

• 45% reduced risk of cancer
• 60% reduced risk of diabetes
• 48% reduced risk of heart disease
• 62-65% reduced risk of hip fractures
• 68% fewer strokes
• 57% decreased rate of developing high blood pressure
• 34% decreased risk of catching a cold